Image filtering method and image filtering system

ABSTRACT

An image filtering method is provided, including: acquiring a sample characteristic value of a sample image; ranking images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; acquiring characteristic values of the images to be filtered; comparing the characteristic values of the images to be filtered with that of the sample image, selecting, from the images, filtered images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in the specific chronological order, and displaying the filtered images. Accordingly, a user is enabled to easily find identical or similar images amongst a large number of images.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of image processing technology, in particular to an image filtering method and an image filtering system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Image identification technology is more and more widely applied in the real life, and 3D photograph and image technologies become mature and popular. However, most of these technologies are still applied in such fields of security and monitoring in terms of face identification. With the development of cloud computing and cloud storage, intensive storage, analysis and processing of a large number of photos from individuals and enterprises will be required and realized. While a large number of images with historical continuity are intensively stored, the technology and method for presenting a series of images with identical or similar characteristic values in a specific order are still unavailable.

Therefore, the prior art needs improvement and development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem to be solved by the invention is to provide an image filtering method and an image filtering system with regard to the above defects of the prior art, aiming at solving the defect that identical images found by users cannot be ranked in a chronological order in the prior art.

The technical solution used by the invention for solving technical problems is as follows:

The invention provides an image filtering method, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value, wherein the characteristic value of the sample image comprises characteristic values of sample images that are collected from users to analyze with an image identification technology or characteristic values of sample images directly entered by users;

ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order;

acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and

comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images with conforming characteristic values being identical or characteristic values being within a match range, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images.

Preferably, the method further comprises the following step before the step of filtering all images with conforming characteristic values being identical or characteristic values being within a match range:

when the searching process based on the width of the current match range ends or the total number of files searched based on the width of the current match range exceeds the time span covered by target files to be searched, adjusting the width and center value of the match range.

Preferably, the step of adjusting the width and center value of the match range comprises:

averaging the characteristic values of the last Y match results searched, and replacing the center value of the existing match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant; and

restarting search from the position of the file having a result when the search stops, and continuing search along the direction till end.

Preferably, the specific chronological order is an increasing order along the time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis, or an order of ranking to both sides of the time axis from any time point.

Preferably, the step of acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order comprises:

analyzing the image files with intensive images one by one by using the same or a group of image identification technologies having the same standard, and storing the characteristic value corresponding to every image in order.

The invention also provides an image filtering method, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value;

ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order;

acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and

comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images.

The step of acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance in the image filtering method comprises:

acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image with an image identification technology or receiving a command of characteristic value entered by a user.

The preset condition in the image filtering method is that the characteristic values are identical or are within a match range.

The image filtering method further comprises the following step before the step of filtering all images conforming to preset conditions:

when the searching process based on the width of the current match range ends or the total number of files searched based on the width of the current match range exceeds the time span covered by target files to be searched, adjusting the width and center value of the match range.

The step of adjusting the width and center value of the match range in the image filtering method comprises:

averaging the characteristic values of the last Y match results searched, and replacing the center value of the existing match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant; and

restarting search from the position of the file having a result when the search stops, and continuing search along the direction till end.

The specific chronological order in the image filtering method is an increasing order along the time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis or an order of ranking to both sides of the time axis from any time point.

The invention also provides an image filtering system, wherein the systems comprises:

a pre-storage module for acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value;

a ranking module for ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order;

a characteristic value acquisition module for acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and

a filtering and displaying module for comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images.

The image filtering system, wherein the pre-storage module comprises:

an acquiring and receiving unit for acquiring a characteristic value of the sample image with an image identification technology or receiving a command of characteristic value entered by a user.

The image filtering system, wherein the preset condition is that the characteristic values are identical or are within a match range.

The specific chronological order is an increasing order along the time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis or an order of ranking to both sides of the time axis from any time point.

The image filtering system, wherein the filtering and displaying module comprises:

a determination unit for adjusting the width and center value of the match range when the searching process based on the width of the current match range ends or the total number of files searched based on the width of the current match range exceeds the time span covered by target files to be searched;

an adjustment unit for averaging the characteristic values of the last Y match results searched, and replacing the center value of the existing match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant; and

a search unit for restarting search from the position of the file having a result when search stops, and continuing search along the direction till end.

The invention provides an image filtering method and an image filtering system, and the method comprises: acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value; ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images. With the invention, images with identical or similar characteristic values can be displayed in a specific chronological order, which facilitates users to look up images with identical or similar characteristics among a large number of images. Meanwhile, the invention can be applied in entertainment application of mobile terminal, and is convenient for users to collect and search information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a preferred example of an image filtering method provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an application example of an image filtering method provided by the invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a preferred example of an image filtering system provided by the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to make the purpose, technical solution and advantages of the invention clearer, the invention will be described in detail in combination with accompanied drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that various embodiments described herein are only used to explain the invention rather than defining the invention.

An image filtering method (see FIG. 1) provided by the first example of the invention comprises:

step S100, acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value;

during concrete implementation, the method for acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in step S100 specifically comprises:

acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image with an image identification technology (for example, image identification based on eye characteristic, identification based on 3D characteristics of facial organs) or receiving a command of characteristic value entered by a user. Specifically, the image identification technology is used to analyze and collect the characteristic values of sample images provided by users, or users can directly enter characteristic values of sample images. Characteristic value is one or a group of outputs acquired upon analysis and processing of image with the image identification technology. The invention does not specially limit the way used by a user to provide sample image. For example, a user will usually select the image in a file with intensive image as a sample image. The invention does not specially limit the formats of the sample images provided by users, and image formats include but are not limited to JPG, BMP and PNG. The invention does not specially limit the manufacturing technology of sample images provided by users, and technology includes but is not limited to 2D and 3D technologies. The invention does not specially limit the used image identification technology.

The invention does not specially define the way of storing characteristic values (such as ratio of dark part and eye white of eyes) of samples. For example, characteristic values can be stored in database.

Step S200, ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order;

During concrete implementation, the specific chronological order is an increasing order along the time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis or an order of ranking to both sides of the time axis from any time point.

Step S300, acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and

During concrete implementation, the image files with intensive images are analyzed one by one by using the same or a group of image identification technologies having the same standard, and the identifier of every image or the image itself or both the image and identifier thereof is stored in order. An identifier is the information for identifying an image from the file storage system so as to distinct the image from other image files, such as but not limited to file name plus address, ID or identifier of file in database. The invention does not mandatorily limit the specific form of identifier.

Step S400, comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images.

During concrete implementation, the characteristic values of the stored images and stored samples are compared one by one in the order above to filter all images with characteristic values being identical or characteristic values being within a match range, or all images with characteristic values not within the match range are deleted from the stored images (if the match range is not defined, images with incompletely identical characteristic values are deleted), and identified image information is stored in order. The match range refers to the user-defined fault-tolerant or fuzzy range of characteristic values. The way of defining the match range is not within the range defined by the invention, and is selected and decided by user based on specific algorithm. Information of an image includes but is not limited to the image itself and identifier thereof. Lastly, the stored images are presented to user based on the match results.

During concrete implementation, the preset condition is that characteristic values are identical or are within the match range (for example, the proportion of eyes in the whole face can have a ±M % fault-tolerant range), the M % can be determined as required, and can be specifically 2%, 3%, 5%, 10%, etc.

Step S400 further comprises:

when the searching process based on the width of the current match range ends or the total number of files searched based on the width of the current match range exceeds the time span covered by target files to be searched, adjusting the width and center value of the match range. For example, assuming that the characteristic value of a long integer type generated upon identification of eye characteristics with the image identification technology above is X, the match width is set to be a % during matching, and the match results with identified characteristic values between (X−X*a %) and (X+X*a %) are valid. Specifically, X can be any one from 10 to 100, the range of a is 1-10, and both X and a can be determined based on user needs.

Wherein the specific method for adjusting the width and center value of the match range is as follows:

Averaging characteristic values of the last Y match results searched, and replacing the center value of the existing match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant, wherein Y can be selected from 10, 20 and 30, and can be also set based on user needs; and

restarting search from the position of the file having a result when the search stops, and continuing search along the direction till end.

The invention also provides an application example (see FIG. 2) of an image filtering method, wherein the method comprises the following steps:

step S10, starting image filtering;

step S20, opening photo album in a device;

step S30, choosing a specific photo as a sample;

step S40, analyzing the chosen photo with the image identification technology, storing the characteristic value of the photo, and storing the characteristic value in database 1;

step S50, ranking the photos in the photo album in a chronological order;

step S60, scanning all photos in the photo album with the same identification algorithm, comparing them with the sample in terms of characteristic value, storing all photos with characteristic values within the match standard range, and storing these photos in database 2;

step S70, displaying the photos in database 2 in order; and

step S80, image filtering ends.

According to the examples above, the invention provides an image filtering method. In the invention, the characteristic values of sample images to be filtered are pre-defined, the images to be filtered are ranked in a certain chronological order and then compared with the sample image in terms of characteristic value; lastly, images with characteristic values within the match range are filtered and displayed, so that users can display the images they are interested in a specific chronological order, which facilitates users to look up images among a large number of images.

Based on the examples above, the invention also provides an image filtering system (see FIG. 3), comprising:

a pre-storage module 510 for acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value (see description above for details);

a ranking module 520 for ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order (see description above for details);

a characteristic value acquisition module 530 for acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order (see description above for details);

and a filtering and displaying module 540 for comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images (see description above for details).

The image filtering system, wherein the pre-storage module 510 further comprises:

an acquiring and receiving unit for acquiring a characteristic value of the sample image with an image identification technology or receiving the command of characteristic value entered by a user (see description above for details).

The image filtering system, wherein the preset condition is that the characteristic values are identical or are within a match range (see description above for details).

The specific chronological order is an increasing order along the time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis or an order of ranking to both sides of the time axis from any time point (see description above for details).

The image filtering system, wherein the filtering and displaying module 540 further comprises:

a determination unit for adjusting the width and center value of the match range when the searching process based on the width of the current match range ends or the total number of files searched based on the width of the current match range exceeds the time span covered by target files to be searched (see description above for details);

an adjustment unit for averaging the characteristic values of the last Y match results searched, and replacing the center value of the existing match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant (see description above for details); and

a search unit for restarting search from the position of the file having a result when the search stops, and continuing search along the direction till end (see description above for details).

In conclusion, the invention provides an image filtering method and an image filtering system, and the method comprises: acquiring a characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the characteristic value; ranking all images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; acquiring the characteristic values of all ranked images to be filtered, and storing these characteristic values in a specific chronological order; and comparing the characteristic values of all images to be filtered with that of the sample image stored in advance, filtering all images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in a specific chronological order, and displaying images. With the invention, images with identical or similar characteristic values can be displayed in a specific chronological order, which facilitates users to look up images with identical or similar characteristics among a large number of images.

It should be understood that the application of the invention is not limited to the examples above. Those skilled in the art can improve or change the invention based on the descriptions above, and the improvement and change fall within the protection scope of the claims of the invention. 

1. An image filtering method, wherein the method comprises: acquiring a sample characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the sample characteristic value, wherein the sample characteristic value is provided by one of an image identification analysis and a user input; ranking a plurality of images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; acquiring characteristic values of the plurality of images, and storing the characteristic values in the specific chronological order; and comparing the characteristic values of the plurality of images with the sample characteristic value, selecting, from the plurality of images, filtered images having characteristic values identical or within a match range of the sample characteristic value, storing the filtered images in the specific chronological order, and displaying the filtered images.
 2. The image filtering method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises: after the selecting ends or after a total number of files searched based on a width of the match range exceeds a time span allocated for target files to be searched during the selecting, adjusting the width and a center value of the match range.
 3. The image filtering method according to claim 2, wherein the adjusting of the width and the center value of the match range comprises: averaging characteristic values of a last Y match results searched to generate an average value, and replacing the center value of the match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant; and restarting the selecting from a position corresponding to a file having a match result when the selecting ends, and continuing the selecting until completion.
 4. The image filtering method according to claim 1, wherein the specific chronological order is one of an increasing order along a time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis, and an order of ranking along either direction of the time axis from a time point.
 5. The image filtering method according to claim 1, wherein the acquiring the characteristic values of the plurality of images, and storing the characteristic values in the specific chronological order comprises: analyzing the plurality of images using one or more image identification technologies according to a consistent standard, and storing a resulting characteristic value corresponding to each of the plurality of images in the specific chronological order.
 6. An image filtering method, wherein the method comprises: acquiring a sample characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the sample characteristic value; ranking a plurality of images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; acquiring the characteristic values of the plurality of images, and storing the characteristic values in the specific chronological order; and comparing the characteristic values of the plurality of images with the sample characteristic value, selecting, from the plurality of images, filtered images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in the specific chronological order, and displaying the filtered images.
 7. The image filtering method according to claim 6, wherein the acquiring the sample characteristic value of the sample image comprises: acquiring the sample characteristic value from one of an image identification analysis and a user input.
 8. The image filtering method according to claim 6, wherein the preset condition comprises the characteristic values of the filtered images being identical or within a match range of the sample characteristic value.
 9. The image filtering method according to claim 8, wherein the method further comprises: after the selecting ends or after a total number of files searched based on a width of the match range exceeds a time span allocated for target files to be searched during the selecting, adjusting the width and a center value of the match range.
 10. The image filtering method according to claim 9, wherein the adjusting of the width and the center value of the match range comprises: averaging characteristic values of a last Y match results searched to generate an average value, and replacing the center value of the match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant; and restarting the selecting from a position corresponding to a file having a match result when the selecting ends, and continuing the selecting until completion.
 11. The image filtering method according to claim 6, wherein the specific chronological order is one of an increasing order along a time axis, a decreasing order along the time axis, and an order of ranking along either direction of the time axis from a time point.
 12. An image filtering system, wherein the image filtering system comprises: a pre-storage module acquiring a sample characteristic value of a sample image in advance and storing the sample characteristic value; a ranking module ranking a plurality of images to be filtered in a specific chronological order; a characteristic value acquisition module acquiring characteristic values of the plurality of images, and storing the characteristic values in the specific chronological order; and a filtering and displaying module comparing the characteristic values of the plurality of images with the sample characteristic value, selecting, from the plurality of images, filtered images conforming to preset conditions, storing the filtered images in the specific chronological order, and displaying the filtered images.
 13. The image filtering system according to claim 12, wherein the pre-storage module comprises: an acquiring and receiving unit acquiring the sample characteristic value from one of an image identification analysis and a user input.
 14. The image filtering system according to claim 12, wherein the preset condition comprises the characteristic values of the filtered images being identical or within a match range of the sample characteristic value.
 15. The image filtering system according to claim 14, wherein the filtering and displaying module comprises: a determination unit adjusting the width and a center value of the match range after the selecting ends or after a total number of files searched based on a width of the match range exceeds a time span allocated for target files to be searched during the selecting.
 16. The image filtering system according to claim 14, wherein the filtering and displaying module comprises: an adjustment unit averaging characteristic values of a last Y match results searched to generate an average value, and replacing the center value of the match range with the average value, wherein Y is a preset constant.
 17. The image filtering system according to claim 14, wherein the filtering and displaying module comprises: a search unit restarting the selecting from a position corresponding to a file having a match result when the selecting ends, and continuing the selecting until completion.
 18. The method of claim 5, wherein the analyzing is done sequentially one-by-one for the plurality of images.
 19. The image filtering method according to claim 6, wherein the acquiring the characteristic values of the plurality of images, and storing the characteristic values in the specific chronological order comprises: analyzing the plurality of images using one or more image identification technologies according to a consistent standard, and storing a resulting characteristic value corresponding to each of the plurality of images in the specific chronological order.
 20. The image filtering system according to claim 12, wherein the pre-storage module is configured to acquire the characteristic values of the plurality of images, and store the characteristic values in the specific chronological order by: analyzing the plurality of images using one or more image identification technologies according to a consistent standard, and storing a resulting characteristic value corresponding to each of the plurality of images in the specific chronological order. 